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SMA Wallboxes and Charging Solutions for Home and Business
Charging electric vehicles should be simple and fast. Discover the optimal charging solution for your needs – from advanced wallboxes in your private garage to charging stations for businesses. SMA helps you seamlessly integrate e-mobility into your energy system.
Overview of SMA Charging Solutions
SMA eCharger
Optimized EV charging with solar power from your own PV system, smart charging modes, and a boost function for fast charging.
SMA EV Charger Business
Our fast, efficient, and forward-looking charging solution for businesses.
SMA Commercial eMobility Solution
All from a single source: hardware, software, and services – the complete solution for commercial e-mobility.
What Charging Solutions are available for Electric Vehicles?
There are different ways to charge an EV:
Standard socket: The simplest method to charge electric vehicles is using a regular household socket (Schuko socket). This option is suitable for occasional charging or as an interim solution. For regular charging, we recommend special charging facilities designed for electric vehicle charging that offer additional safety features.
Wallboxes for home use: Wallboxes are permanently installed charging stations for home use that offer significantly faster charging than conventional sockets. They drastically increase charging speed and are particularly suited for electric vehicles used on a regular basis.
Charging solutions with a PV system: Wallboxes and commercial charging stations can also be connected to a photovoltaic system. This allows electric vehicles to be charged sustainably with self-generated solar power, lowering operating costs and increasing independence from the power grid.
Public charging stations and fast charging stations: Public charging stations work similarly to traditional gas stations: simply pull up, "fuel up" with electricity, and pay. A growing number of companies also offer such charging stations for their employees. While standard charging stations provide moderate charging speeds, fast charging stations enable significantly faster charging.
Wallboxes for Home Charging
Charging an electric vehicle at home should be convenient, fast, and safe – and that is exactly where wallboxes come in.
Faster charging: While standard sockets often only allow slow charging, wallboxes with 11 kW or 22 kW offer significantly higher speeds. The exact charging time depends on the vehicle's battery capacity as well as the charging power of the wallbox. The vehicle's onboard charger also influences the charging time.
11 kW wallbox: Charging with 11 kW allows an electric vehicle to charge up to 80% in about 3 to 4 hours, depending on battery size. This power level is particularly suitable for places where the vehicle is parked for longer periods.
22 kW wallbox: With 22 kW, the charging power doubles, greatly reducing charging times and often allowing an electric vehicle to charge up to 80% in just 1 to 2 hours. This option requires a stronger electrical infrastructure and is ideal for drivers who need faster charging or frequently drive long distances.
Enhanced safety: Compared to conventional sockets, wallboxes are specifically designed for charging electric vehicles and offer additional safety features.
SMA Highlight: Charging EVs with Solar Power
Become independent of rising electricity prices by charging your electric vehicle with solar power from your roof. The SMA eCharger integrates seamlessly into your home energy system.
Find out more about the options for charging your electric car with solar power now.
SMA eCharger: Your Gateway to Smart Charging
Load Management: The SMA eCharger enables charging with a power output of up to 22 kW – tailored to individual needs, available solar power, and grid capacity.
Charging Modes: Thanks to forecast-based operation, the SMA eCharger continuously adapts to users' habits and needs, offering various charging modes to choose from. These modes include:
Fast Charging: The vehicle is charged at the maximum available power. PV and grid electricity are combined for this purpose.
PV-Optimized Charging: The vehicle is charged primarily with electricity from the PV system, which is cost-effective and particularly eco-friendly.
Compatibility: The SMA eCharger is versatile and compatible with all common EVs thanks to its permanently attached Type 2 charging cable.
SMA Specialist Contractor Search
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Commercial Charging Stations for Businesses
Commercial charging stations are designed to provide high charging power and can charge multiple electric vehicles simultaneously. They are ideal for companies looking to electrify their vehicle fleets or provide charging options for employees and customers.
Function and features: Modern commercial charging stations are tailored to the specific needs of business users. This includes the ability to prioritize charging sessions as well as plan and manage charging points. A charging point is a single connection unit at a charging station where an electric vehicle can be charged. A charging station can have multiple charging points, allowing multiple vehicles to be charged simultaneously.
AC charging stations: Alternating current charging stations (AC charging stations) directly supply alternating current (AC) from the power grid to charge the EV. The onboard charger built into the vehicle converts this AC power into the required direct current (DC), which then charges the vehicle's battery. Charging power is often limited by the vehicle's onboard charger, with AC charging stations typically offering 11 kW or 22 kW. These are more suitable for private individuals or smaller businesses, as they provide sufficient charging power and are generally more cost-effective and easier to install than fast or direct current charging stations.
DC charging stations: Direct current charging stations (DC charging stations) directly supply the direct current (DC) needed to charge the battery, bypassing the vehicle's onboard charger. This enables significantly higher charging power and thus much shorter charging times compared to AC charging stations. Typical power ratings for DC charging stations range from 50 kW to over 350 kW for ultra-fast charging. DC charging stations, frequently referred to as fast chargers, are primarily suited for larger businesses as they meet higher charging demands and are often deployed in areas with high vehicle turnover.
Integrated billing systems: Integrated billing systems enable accurate and automatic recording of electricity consumption, simplifying administration and ensuring fair and transparent billing for both employees and external users.
Calibration-compliant charging stations for electric vehicles: Calibration-compliant charging stations for electric vehicles ensure that every transaction complies with legal regulations and that the billed energy amount matches the actually charged energy exactly. This is especially important when customers pay for charging.
Scalability and integration options: SMA's charging solutions are not only scalable to grow with your business, but also offer extensive integration options into existing energy management systems to enable optimal use of renewable energies and efficient management of charging processes.
SMA EV Charger Business: Fast and Easy Charging for your Business
The SMA EV Charger Business is a high-performance charging station for businesses, specially developed to charge multiple electric vehicles quickly and securely at the same time.
SMA Commercial eMobility Solution: The All-in-One Package
The SMA Commercial eMobility Solution is a holistic solution for companies looking to implement an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It includes hardware, software, and services specifically tailored to the needs of business customers.
Find out more about charging infrastructure for businesses from SMA. Here you will find detailed insights into the functionality and use of our charging stations in commercial environments.
Planned by SMA Experts – Commercial Charging Solutions for Businesses
Use the SMA Planning Service and let our experts plan your commercial PV system including charging infrastructure.
Solar and E-Mobility Hand in Hand: Our Charging Solutions in Action
Our e-mobility solutions are successfully in use. Pioneer Markus Heel demonstrates how the interplay of self-generated solar energy and a fully electrified corporate fleet creates a winning combination.
Learn more about the use of SMA charging solutions in business here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charging Solutions and Wallboxes
What subsidies and incentives are available for individuals and businesses installing EV charging stations?
The available subsidies for setting up EV charging stations vary by country, region, and sometimes even city. As a rule, governments, energy suppliers, and sometimes local authorities or municipal utilities offer grants, tax benefits, or other incentives to support the installation of wallboxes and charging infrastructure.
What charging power do I need for my electric vehicle?
For daily use at home and overnight charging, a charging power of 11 kW is usually sufficient. However, for faster charging times or larger vehicle fleets, 22 kW or more may be required.
What are the benefits of a commercial charging solution for businesses?
Businesses can offer charging options to their employees and customers and support the adoption of e-mobility. If the charging current comes from the company's own PV system, self-generated solar power can be used to charge the vehicles. Charging infrastructure can also increase the company's attractiveness to employees and customers.
How does a wallbox work for electric vehicles?
With a wallbox, alternating current (AC) is drawn from the power grid, passed through the wallbox, and provided to the electric vehicle to charge the battery. The onboard charger built into the vehicle then converts this AC power into direct current (DC), which is stored by the battery. Smart features such as programmable charging times optimize the charging process, while integrated safety mechanisms such as residual current protection (RCD) ensure safe charging.
Who installs a wallbox or charging station?
The installation of a wallbox must be carried out by a certified qualified electrician with experience in installing electric vehicle charging stations. This ensures that the installation complies with current safety standards. The electrician typically also handles registering the wallbox with the responsible grid operator. For businesses, the procedure is generally the same as for private individuals: charging stations must be installed by specialist companies and registered with the local grid operator. Responsibility for registration lies with the company. Often, the registration is handled by the commissioned electrician or the internal technical department of the commissioning company.
What is the difference between a wallbox, EV charging station, and charging point?
The terms "charging station", "wallbox", and "charging point" all revolve around charging EVs, but strictly speaking, they have different meanings:
Charging station: A charging station is a general term for any facility that supplies electricity to electric vehicles – regardless of whether it is private or publicly accessible.
Wallbox: A wallbox is typically intended for private use at home or in small businesses. It is mounted on the wall (hence the name "wallbox").
Charging point / charging pole (Ladesäule): A charging station (Ladesäule) is a charging facility installed mostly in public places such as parking lots, shopping centers, or highway rest stops. Increasingly, businesses also use charging stations to provide them to employees as well as visitors and customers. Charging stations often have multiple charging points so that multiple vehicles can be charged simultaneously. They frequently require authentication via cards, apps, or other access methods.